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A Review of Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
A Review of Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
By Hannah Rak
By Hannah Rak
Six of Crows is the first book in the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo. This was not Bardugo’s first book, there is a trilogy that also takes place in the same universe, with different characters. However, you can read these series separately. Six of Crows is about six different people in their late teens attempting to pull off a seemingly impossible heist with an array of setbacks. These characters come from a variety of backgrounds, from a man who lost everything to someone who runs an active gambling establishment. They come together to form friendships, romantic relationships, and a cohesive team.
I really enjoyed this book when I read it for the first time. I was constantly entranced by the story that was being told. I was rushing to get to the next scene with my favorite characters. Leigh Bardugo does a fantastic job of writing tense and sad scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat. I was not a fan of how she switched the point of view on what was happening to each character. Sometimes it was confusing reading the same part of the story but through someone else’s eyes. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a story with characters who come together to form their own family along with loads of action-packed scenes.
A Review of Pokemon Legends of Arceus
A Review of Pokemon Legends of Arceus
By Ayumi Kinoshita
By Ayumi Kinoshita
Pokemon Legends Arceus is the latest game in the Pokemon franchise, and I consider it a turning point for future games. In this review, I won’t be including spoilers so anyone who is curious about Legends Arceus but doesn't want to be spoiled is more than welcome to read this.
What makes this brand new Pokemon game stand out from all the rest is by far the open-world mechanics Game Freak implemented. Rather than being confined to a linear route like in previous games, Legends Arceus allows players to roam the pokemon world to their heart’s content. Players can explore every nook and cranny of the map, catching all the pokemon to fill out their Pokedex, battling powerful opponents, and discovering the secrets of Hisui. It’s a thrilling experience that everyone has been searching for, and Game Freak heard their calls and answered. Now you can take fall damage in a pokemon game!
One small negative detail is that filling out the Pokedex (which is required to progress in the storyline) can feel tedious at times. FIlling out the requirements to rank up and unlock different areas of the map can be repetitive, which can easily bore the kind of player who doesn't enjoy that kind of gameplay. However, the grind is very much worth it when you see your Pokedex slowly but surely fill up. How satisfying!
A popular and common concern among the fanbase and also a reason people will hesitate to buy Legends is the graphic quality. Audiences watched the trailers and were disappointed with what they saw, and although I agree that the graphics aren’t top-notch, it never affected my enjoyment of the game. The visuals are satisfying, they’re not distracting, and the colors don’t hurt the eyes, providing a comfortable visual experience.
I love the creators’ direction with Pokemon Legends Arceus and had tons of fun riding on the backs of unique pokemon to reach certain areas of the map. I also enjoy watching the wild pokemon roam around and interact with nature because it seems so lifelike as if I’m actually in the world of pokemon. Another plus is the main character and NPC designs. They are so charming and can tell a lot about the characters even before you interact with them!
The Culture
The Culture
By Malachi Emmons
By Malachi Emmons
Dawn FM By The Weeknd
Dawn FM By The Weeknd
Release Date: January 6, 2022
Tracks: 16
Length: 52 minutes
Genre: Pop/RnB
Personal: 3/10
Critical: 5/10
Best Track: Sacrifice
Worst Track: Gasoline
Summary:
Summary:
The Weeknd strikes a new standard of mediocrity with this slog of a record. With stunning older projects like Starboy, Beauty Behind the Madness, and House of Balloons, this record is shockingly empty. From the poorly developed road trip to the afterlife motif to the hyper-sterile production, one is left waiting around for the ambient intro to end and the song to start. Unfortunately, it never does.
Where is the Hook?
Where is the Hook?
The Weeknd has long been known for phenomenal production. The atmosphere of his albums is impeccable. You often find yourself hooked from start to finish. Dawn FM destroys his streak. Previous albums have shown evolution to a cleaner more ambient sound. This sparkly, spacey approach worked on the ’80s-inspired After Hours, however, Dawn FM takes this to an obnoxiously round production. Every song is soft and sterile. The listener waits for all fifty-two minutes of the record's painful runtime just to find no differentiating hook, bite, or intensity. Even The Weeknd’s vocal takes a backseat, hidden, underused, uninspired, and over-effected.
Same Old, Same Old
Same Old, Same Old
“Hey, put on that Weeknd song about the toxic relationship!”
“Which one? There are a thousand.”
The Weeknd also approaches this album with uninspired songwriting. With another ten or so songs about bad relationships, it has to be asked. “Can The Weeknd write about anything else?” It is incredibly painful to sit through each of these slow, lame, repetitive pop songs about loving married women and the like, especially when the vocal is the least engaging it has ever been. Nothing on this record dares to shake things up.
What’s the Point?
What’s the Point?
The album is shrouded in the art-pop guise of being a radio station that guides you into the afterlife. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really do anything with it. Not only does it add to the unending, unenergetic melancholy, but virtually no songs on the record really develop a plot. As previously mentioned, it’s all crappy toxic love songs. If anything it feels like it restricted songwriting, but hey, Jim Carrey as narrator was genius.
New Waves
New Waves
By Malachi Emmons
By Malachi Emmons
Off Book: The Improvised Musical by Jessica Mckenna and Zach Reino
Off Book: The Improvised Musical by Jessica Mckenna and Zach Reino
Musical Podcast
Musical Podcast
Though a bit off-brand for my reviews, I felt I had to mention Jessica Mckenna and Zach Reino’s fantastic podcast. Featuring brilliant improv and fantastic singing, the hosts bring an entirely improvised musical every week. The show is incredibly enjoyable, full of character and skill, and has featured some hilarious guests such as Ben Schwartz. It is an absolute must-listen for those interested in musical theater.
Personal: 10/10
Critical: 10/10
From a Bird’s Eye View By Cordae
From a Bird’s Eye View By Cordae
Hip-Hop
Hip-Hop
Cordae has gone underappreciated in the hip-hop community for long enough. His previous project The Lost Boy was unpolished, however, it stuck out to me immediately. From a Bird’s Eye View easily justifies my interest. With more polished production, better bars, and a realized sense of uniqueness, Cordae has proven his worth on the mic.
Personal: 8/10
Critical: 8/10
Fly Like an Eagle by The Steve Miller Band
Fly Like an Eagle by The Steve Miller Band
Rock
Rock
This is an oldie but a goodie, in fact, it’s one of the best. Every instrumentalist is wonderfully skilled, the songs are beautifully written, and Steve Miller’s voice is like velvet. Being perhaps the most laid-back rock you can listen to, this album is wonderfully unique from its contemporaries. A joy from start to finish, you can never go wrong with this record.
Personal: 10/10
Critical: 10/10
On The Radar
On The Radar
By Malachi Emmons
By Malachi Emmons
Donda 2 by Kanye West
Room For Squares by John Mayer
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme by Simon and Garfunkle
7220 by Lil Durk
Who is Kaycyy? by Kaycyy
A Very Lonely Solstice by Fleet Foxes
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